William r



UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

- WVILLIAM R. GERHART, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES A. INGLIS, OF SAME PLACE.

RAlL-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 567,311, dated September 8, 1896.

Application filed May 25, 1893.

f To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that 1, WILLIAM R. GERHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rail-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of fasteners employed for securing rails to wooden or other penetrable ties. The outside spikes, as ordinarily used, are loosened in the ties by the transverse pressure of the base of the rail against their upper ends, and, more particularly, by the tendency of the rail to cant outward under the pressure of the wheelfianges. The effect of the giving of the rail to this pressure is to raise the spikes 011 the inside thereof by a direct pull, and to raise and push back those on the outside by the upward pressure of the base of the rail under the inner edges of the heads of the spikes. The constant repetition of this pressure loosens the spikes in the wood and draws them up out of the same until there is an increasing play of the base of the rail and a spreading of the same. This action of the rails not only requires that the spikes be frequently driven back to their places, but also wears out and destroys the ties.

The object of my invention is to prevent this loosening of the spikes. I accomplish this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is an end section of a rail secured to the tie bya fastener embodying my improvement; Fig. 2, a similar view showing a portion of the sta -spike cut away; Fig. 3, a perspective inner face view of the stayspike, and Fig. 4 a similar view of a modified form of the same.

Similar letters indicate like parts throughv out the several views.

Referring to the details of the drawings, A indicates a rail, and B the cross-tie. On the outside of, and adjacent to, the base of the rail there is driven a stay-spike, I), (so called for the purposes of this specification.) The head or upper end of the stay-spike may be broadened, and it has formed in the inner edge Serial No. 475,409. (No model.)

thereof and diagonally of its length a recess (1. The spike proper, E, is preferably wedgeshaped, and is driven down into the cross-tie through said recess until the lip e of the head bears on the base a of the rail, the inner face of the shank thereof bearing against the edge of the rail-base and the outer edge against the back of recess (Z, as seen in Fig. 2. As shown,- the shank of the stay-spike is driven into the wood diagonally from the base of the rail, and the spike E diagonally under the same; but this is not absolutely necessary, as the stayspike may be driven perpendicularly to the.

surface of the cross-tie, or the spike E may be driven more nearly perpendicular than is shown, the inclination of recess (l being constructed to receive the back of spike E in each instance. Stay-spike D may be driven so close as to touch the edge of the rail-base, but it is preferable that it set somewhat away from said base. In Fig. 4 there is shown a stayspike having a lip-or flange f formed on the side of the head to offer greater resistance against being driven too far into the cross-tie by the pressure exerted thereon, or the shank may be split in any well-known manner for the same purpose.

The invention is applicable to any crosstie into which a spike can be driven. It will be found sufficient if this fastener be used on the outside of the rails. As will be seen, any effort of the rail to turn outward and move spike E is met by the resistance of the stayspike, which is held the more tightly in the cross-tie the greater the pressure or thrust put upon it.

I do not limit myself to any particular construction of bearing for the spike in the stayspike; neither do I restrict myself to the particular construction of those spikes, nor to any particular direction in which they are to be driven into the cross-tie.

' My invention involves a radical departure in the construction and principle of operation in rail-fasteners, the invention consisting, broadly, in fastening a stay or support to the cross-tie back of the head of thespike, securing the rail to the same in such manner that the spike shall have adownward bearing on such stay or support.

Having thus described my invention, what, cess therein adjacent to the rail, and a spike I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters engaging said recess and the rail, substan- I 5 Patent, is tially as and for the purpose specified.

1. The combination, with a stay, of a spike 4. The combination, with a rail and a pen- 5 securing the rail to a tie and bearing diagetrable cross-tie, of astay-spike provided with onally downward on said. stay, for the pura flanged head having a recess therein, and pose specified. a spike engaging said recess and the rail, for 20 2. The combination, with a stay, of a spike the purpose specified. driven diagonally downward beneath the rail r a 10 and securing the same to the tie, the spike GERHARI' bearing on the stay, for the purpose specified. WVitnesses:

3. The combination, with a rail and a pen- A. B. HAMBRIGHT, etrable cross-tie, of a stay-spike having a re- ELLA L. GERHART. 

